Avery fine return to form for Kate!
NORTH East athletes posted a number of eye-catching performances after travelling to Wales for the first real cross-country test of the season.
The Cardiff arm of the UK Cross Challenge saw competitors face a new course at Llandaf Fields - and though Storm Callum had relented strong winds were in evidence throughout the day.
However, it turned out to be a great day for Shildon’s Kate Avery who, after a lean two years, showed the form which earned her two European cross-country individual silver medals.
It was the Avery of old who led home the British challenge in the 6.5k event - only Denmark’s Anna Moller getting the better of her in the run to finish with just four seconds separating the pair at the line.
Finishing ahead of in-form Jessica Judd, last year’s series winner, showed Avery will again be a force to be reckoned with and, with December’s European Championships on the horizon, a place in the GB team cannot be ruled out.
In the early stages Avery was always in contention at the head of affairs, Morpeth’s Northern Cross-Country champion Mhairi Maclennan also prominent in the leading group.
However, just after the midway point Maclennan dropped away as the pace increased and, entering the final kilometre, Avery and last year’s European under-23 steeplechase champion Moller were out on their own going stride for stride.
It was Moller, who also contested the steeplechase at the Rio Olympic Games, who had that little extra to claim an excellent victory.
Aldershot’s Emily Hosker-Thornhill closed down Avery to two seconds to claim third place with Judd, who also won in Cardiff last year, holding off Maclennan to claim fourth place.
After the race Avery said: “It was tough. I am really happy with how I performed because I have just been getting back into training sessions so I am delighted with how I did. It was not as bad as I expected it to be.
“It was a strong field despite it being the first meet out. I thought some might not do it because of that but I am pleased with how I handled it.’’
As well as Avery and Maclennan, Birtley’s Lydia Turner also faced the starter as she continues on the comeback trail after a series of injuries and illness.
Avery was delighted with her performance and the same can be said for Turner for, after finishing in 13th place, a scroll through the results showed she was the second British athlete in the under-23 age group to cross the line - a result which could ultimately set her up for the European Championships in the Netherlands.
Finishing one place and four seconds ahead of Turner was Londoner Phoebe Law to claim the under-23 bragging rights.
Last winter Law was unbeatable over the country, winning the national and intercounties senior titles - though her last competitive outing was over 10k on the roads in April when she finished runner-up in Brighton behind Charlotte Arter.
There was also a second-place podium finish for the region in the under-20 men’s contest - Morpeth’s Rory Leonard opening his winter account with a fine performance.
Last year’s inter-counties’ under-17 cross-country champion was making his debut in the older age group.
Always at the head of affairs, the Northumbrian was only denied victory by homebased Jake Heyward.
The Wales athlete, who has a 1,500m persnal best of 3min 36.90sec to his name, proved too strong in the final kilometre to win by 38 seconds.
The region had one competitor in the senior men’s race, Houghton’s Cameron Allen 26th as victory went to Liverpool’s former national cross-country champion, Charlie Hulson.
The combined under-17/20 women’s contest saw Gosforth’s Rhian Purves make the trip - and it was a good decision as she crossed the line in 16th place and 10th in the older age category.